Boston, MA – November 1: Boston Celtics forward Josh Minott reacts after making a shot in the second quarter at TD Garden on November 1, 2025. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Boston Globe via Getty Images
When Josh Minott signed with the Boston Celtics this offseason, their message was simple:
“Nothing’s given. Everything’s earned. Don’t expect anything,” he told Forbes at Summer League about what the team communicated to him. After averaging five minutes of floor time in his three years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was a message that resonated with Minott’s motivation.
“Honestly, that’s everything to me,” said the soon-to-be 23-year-old wing. “I just need the opportunity to get the chance to prove who I am and show what I can do.”
The Florida native quickly went to work, spending the offseason training relentlessly in Miami.
“Every day, just waking up, working out three times a day. You got two basketball workouts, one weight room workout, I mean, it’s a hustle, man,” Minott told Forbes after helping run a youth basketball clinic at the YMCA in Roxbury, where the Celtics and New Balance unveiled a gym renovation. “It feels good to, I guess, see that preparation meet opportunity, but that’s just the first step.”
The summer runs that helped prepare Josh Minott
The former Memphis Tigers standout wasn’t just sharpening his craft with solo sessions; he was challenging himself during pick-up games against a group that included Bam Adebayo, Obi Toppin, Malik Beasley, and Bones Hyland.
Starving for the opportunity he was about to have when the current campaign arrived, the six-foot-eight wing treated those pick-up runs like they were Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
“This offseason, I tried to really connect a lot of high-level guys, especially, like runs and stuff like that,” Minott told Forbes. “Just learning tendencies. I’d say half the battle is just knowing who you’re guarding. And so, for someone like me, I wanted to connect groups of guys.
“And if there’s a five-on-five run or something like that, I’m not just seeing that, it’s just like, we’re just having fun. I’m actually — I’m trying to actually lock you down at like 10 am on a Sunday. It’s like, no one’s signing to be on the other end of that, but it’s just like, that’s how I was trying to prepare.”
What that has led to is Luka Garza, who was with Minott in Minnesota and also took his talents to Boston this summer, declaring earlier this week, “I’ve definitely seen him unlock a level on the defensive end that I haven’t seen before.”
The fourth-year wing is showcasing his defensive versatility while thriving in a system that’s as aggressive as it is demanding. Joe Mazzulla is asking his team to swarm opponents in an effort to force turnovers, then push the pace as much as possible.
Within that construct, Minott is in a tie with Derrick White for a team-high 3.4 deflections. That ranks in the top 25 across the Association among those averaging at least 20 minutes, with five or more appearances, per NBA.com. The former is also swiping 1.3 steals per contest.
Along with disruptive defense, he’s running the floor to make an impact in transition. He’s also elevating the offense with his cutting and by crashing the glass, especially from the corners. The result is averaging 7.4 points and 2.6 offensive rebounds. The latter matches starting center Neemias Queta’s output for the most on the team.
It’s a part of the all-around contributions that have earned Boston’s new wing five straight starts as he becomes an increasing fixture in the first unit. His two-year, $5 million contract, which includes a $2.6 million club option for the 2026-27 campaign, is quickly looking like a steal.
On a roster defined by players eager to prove themselves with more responsibility, thanks to his approach this offseason, Josh Minott’s early impact stands out. As the Celtics search for contributors who can have a role in their return to title contention when Jayson Tatum is ready to help them recapture that status, he’s showing his new franchise that it has found a hidden gem.